Minutes of the Our Lady of the Missions Parent Council AGM
11th September 2014
Present
C. Jamieson, G. Boyle, A. Forsyth, M. O’Reilly, L. Garety, C. James, J. Taggart, R. Spooner, Cllr Waters, Cllr Robertson, Cllr McAskill, M. Moore, M-C. Darroch, C. McCudden, K. Kelly, F. McKean, C. McLaughlin, M. Cluckie, P. Hessett, G. Bhatti, M. Hynes, J. Heraghty, C. Bowes, J. Harkins, S. Morrison, E. Holland, J. McLachlan
Transition
C. Jamieson explained that the Meet the Teacher evening had gone well. He said that a lot of work had been done in the new building over the summer and that the additional space was very welcome. There are plans to look at how best to use the building and changes would continue to be made in the allocation of space where necessary.
The garden area has been cleared by the council and the Gardening Club has begun planting. It was noted that it would be important to be mindful of local residents when large number of pupils are using this space.
Additional works are planned to take place during the October break and more work will be carried out after the breakthrough to the new building. The cafeteria will be replaced and the kitchen will be renewed as part of preparations for free school meals for p1 to 3 in 2015.
C. Jamieson has put fire evacuation plans into every classroom, including for those pupils with additional needs.
M. O’Reilly asked about whether there were any plans to freshen up the canopied area beside the P4 door. C. Jamieson replied that this would be painted.
M. Moore asked about signs for the new building. C. Jamieson said that new signs had been ordered.
J. Heraghty asked about the timeframe for the completion of the corridor. C. Jamieson replied that he had been in contact with R. O’Kane of ERC and that the tower was taking shape but that the project is running a few weeks behind schedule. It is hoped that this time will be made up and that the corridor will be completed by late November, early December. Cllr McAskill noted that it would be reasonable to expect that the time lost could be recovered.
Discussions with ERC will include the issue of levelling the ground and any development of the land that might take place if there is any money left over from the original budget. C. Jamieson added that in view of the cost of creating the access road, it might be more cost-efficient to make use of the aggregate that has been brought in. The accounts will be scrutinized in October and in addition a capital bid has been submitted. There has been no problem with drainage at this stage.
C. Jamieson spoke about the removal of one of the huts and noted that the ground was already prepared underneath. An all-weather play area could potentially be established there but this was just one idea of many that could be considered once we are in a position to start planning what is feasible for the area. Applications will be made for additional grants to fund further development if necessary.
R. Spooner asked whether a decision would be made on the capital bid before the current project was finished. Cllr Waters replied that a decision would not be made until after Christmas and that the work would be put out to tender anyway.
C. Jamieson was hopeful that there would be money left over as some savings had been made.
C. Jamieson said that staff had been working hard to make the two buildings work. He said that children were enjoying having to queue for a shorter time for lunch and J. McGrotty added that there was a relaxed feeling and more time for staff to catch up with the children.
J. Taggart asked whether there was any indoor space that could be used for wet plays. C. Jamieson replied that a rota could perhaps be put into place. The gym hall is used for packed lunches but the forum or ICT suite could be used. A covered outdoor area was also suggested.
L. Garety asked about the children missing gym when the hall is set up for other activities. C. Jamieson said that teachers had been encouraged to take children outdoors for gym when the weather is suitable.
R. Spooner asked about Woodfarm Pavilion. C. Jamieson said that this was no longer used.
Sub-groups
A. Forsyth said that the Traffic, Communications and the Food and Nutrition sub-groups would continue to work on various issues this year.
C. Jamieson indicated that new guidelines for nutrition had been issued. A grant of £3500 had been awarded by Food for Thought in order to highlight the importance of a healthy diet. N. Cochrane will be attending the national meeting of this group. A stipulation of the grant was for the school to become involved in the local community.
J. Taggart asked about the withdrawal of the strawberry and chocolate milk from the school menu. C. Jamieson said that this had been done on a trial basis but that a decision had been made by ERC to keep them on the menu.
Issues for 2014/15
G. Boyle asked for suggestions as to what the Parent Council might look at this year.
C. Jamieson referred to the school Improvement Plan. He spoke about the God’s Loving Plan resource which has been approved by the Scottish Bishops. He said that this would be launched through an open evening in the school after Christmas and that the material would begin to be used in the summer term. He referred also to the protection of children and the GIRFEC and SHANARRI guidelines followed by the school.
C. James asked about the additional money that had been allocated to help the lowest twenty percent of pupils and suggested that perhaps the PC could be involved in generating ideas for the use of that funding to target those pupils. C. Jamieson said that he had been able to have two full-time teachers and that a Maths teacher from St Ninian’s would be available as part of this initiative and that he would be able to spread the money to last until Easter.
G. Bhatti asked whether coding would be taught as part of the ICT syllabus and noted that this would be a useful thing to do. C. Jamieson said he did not know of any plan to do so. He added that learning materials are being transferred onto GLOW.
C. Jamieson spoke about a questionnaire which had been issued in February 2014. He said that the responses were generally pleasing but that a small number of parents were unsure that their views were taken account of and acted upon when sought and were unsure about arrangements at the time of transitions. This will be explored further.
.The issue of security in the school was also raised and it was suggested that perhaps the PC could look at ways in which this might be improved.
J. McLachlan, a representative on the National Parent Forum, said that a working group had been set up to look at the issues of assessing and reporting and that he would be able to report back to the PC in a couple of months.
Headteacher’s Report
Flu immunisations are to be given out in the next few weeks. Letters have been sent out about this. Children will be shown a DVD to explain the procedure. It will be the parents’ responsibility to inform the school if their child is unwell and therefore unable to receive the vaccine on any specific day. Parents will be informed of which day their child is to receive it.
A new system of protecting personal information has been put in place, called Protect Plus. The more information contained in a letter, the more protected it becomes so that, for example, some letters may need to be picked up from the school office.
J. Devlin will be taking the P7 children to Lockerbie Manor.
M. Hynes asked about Ardentinny but C. Jamieson said that it is not big enough to accommodate the P7s.
From January the children in P5-7 will be learning both French and some basic Mandarin. G. Bhatti asked whether the Scottish Government had prescribed the teaching of Mandarin or whether it might be an option to teach Spanish. C. Jamieson said that it was down to the expertise available in the cluster and that a different cluster currently teaches Spanish.
Finally, those attending were invited to self- nominate by submitting membership forms / signed codes of conduct if they wished to become members of the Parent Council for the 2014/15 session.
Date of the next meeting – 23rd October 2014
